Top ten reasons the Irish just aren’t that lucky (PHOTOS)

When you are on the edge of Europe and first landfall for Atlantic storms - look out. But on the upside, all the rain has given us the oul’ Forty Shades of Green. And since the weather rarely changes, basically anyone can be a meteorologist. Think of the employment opportunities!

2. Invasions

Real estate agents will tell you that location is everything, and Ireland’s prime spot on the western edge of Europe (and right next door to England) has attracted marauders since around 800 AD. The Vikings arrived first to disrupt the island’s monastic culture and enjoy the bracing sea winds. The Norman Invasion followed, bringing us English involvement for the next 800 years, with the Plantation of Ulster, Penal Laws, the Act of Union, the Easter Rising and the Civil War. Not to seem unfriendly, but next time, call before stopping by, OK?

3. Boy Bands

Ireland’s music scene has spawned superstars like U2, plus top-selling acts like The Cranberries, The Corrs and Thin Lizzy. But no matter how hard they’ve tried, the country’s boy bands haven’t been able to crack the U.S. charts. Sure, Boyzone and Westlife sold trillions of CDs in England -- but it’s possible that buying frenzy was more about lingering British guilt over 800 years of oppression rather than any real desire to hear “Flying Without Wings” or “Love Me for a Reason.” American ears have proved immune, though Niall Horan, 1D’s sole Irish member, has escaped the Irish curse. (So far.)

4. Celtic Tiger

Back in the early years of the 21st century, Ireland’s booming economy mirrored America’s dot com bubble – there was so much money floating around that people were lining the cat’s litter box with shredded £10 notes. Then came the crash, and Ireland’s moment as the Swinging Capital of Europe came to an end. Austerity was the new Black and standing in the dole queue replaced waiting outside a nightclub’s velvet ropes. On the upside, the government bailout of corrupt banks has united the country by making everyone feel the same emotion: disgust.

World-class chefs like Darina Allen, Neven Maguire and Kevin Dundon are leaving foodies swooning with their locally-sourced, minimalist approach to Irish cuisine. But how many of us think “Irish” (as opposed to Chinese, Mexican, Italian and Indian) when ordering takeout? Irish food meant boiled potatoes, boiled cabbage and boiled bacon -- filling, yes, but tasty? Meh. Going to an Irish restaurant in New York usually meant three things: it was also a bar; the chef would give “Irishy” names to regular food (Killarney Chicken, anyone?) and dessert meant apple pie. Things may have changed, but soda bread with caraway seeds is forever.

The Famine Irish made their mark on U.S. politics when they realized that the one who gets the votes is the one who wields the power. Early 20th century machines like New York’s Tammany Hall were notorious for corruption and cronyism. Then the Kennedys burst onto the scene. Joe Sr. became an advisor to FDR in 1932 and Ambassador to the Court of St. James in 1938, and groomed his sons John, Bobby and Ted for careers in public service. Though two fell to assassins’ bullets, they each left their mark on history – JFK as president, RFK and Ted in the senate. Later generations of the family have followed the “family business” but many have been tarred by scandal. It’s a safe bet that they don’t feel they’ve been particularly lucky.